imaginative

adjective

i-'ma-jə-nə-tiv How to pronounce imaginative (audio)
Definition of imaginativenext
1
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things an imaginative child who is always writing short stories about her pet cat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing found an imaginative gadget that can grind the beans and heat the water to brew coffee

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imaginative His legacy as a pioneer in sci-fi television continues to inspire new generations through his imaginative worlds and unforgettable characters. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Instead of letting the lemon tree’s leaves fall and wither, the culinary team makes oils to use in Scholtmeyer’s imaginative cooking. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 Instead of creating a carbon-copy of Disney's American theme parks, its designers, who are known as Imagineers due to their imaginative use of engineering, tailored the Shanghai site to the local market. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Teachers decide what type of class to offer — academic or imaginative. — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imaginative
  1. inventive
  2. innovative
  3. creative
  4. clever
  5. talented
Adjective
  • Shi draws on his own family history to examine ageing, domestic violence and intergenerational duty in contemporary China, working in a mode that marries close observational filmmaking with formally inventive cinematic language.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 July 2026
  • Below is another interchange with Scott, away to Newcastle the following week, as well as a piece of inventive hold-up play to free Adrien Truffert down the wing at Manchester City last November.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • Even inspirational leaders make boneheaded calls, as with firing an innovative defense minister.
    — Max Boot, Washington Post, 20 July 2026
  • Disengaged teams are less innovative and less resilient, and replacing experienced employees is costly.
    — Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of innovative
Adjective
  • When generative AI products like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion began threatening the creative software category in late 2022, Adobe converted the shift into a visible governance event within six months.
    — Kerry Huang, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Eastern Shore Art Center Fairhope’s creative spirit is on full display at the Eastern Shore Art Center, where rotating exhibitions showcase regional artists alongside workshops, lectures, and community events.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of creative
Adjective
  • Coors Light previously has found several clever ways around that, including the Coors Light bear.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • Not your basic travel pouch, the Quince Dual-Compartment Toiletry Bag has a clever design that makes packing essentials effortless.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • The key is whether Arteaga can extract more from the talented arms who have underperformed elsewhere.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • The James Bond-style scene introduces Judith as talented, serious and a bit of a loner.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of talented

Browse Nearby Words

imagination
imaginative
imaginativeness
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Cite this Entry

“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imaginative. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imaginative

Nglish: Translation of imaginative for Spanish Speakers

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